FIJI COUNTRY PROGRAM 2015

• supported local communities and tourism operators to explore opportunities to
establish a voluntary contribution to conservation scheme around dive tourism,
including the drafting of a management plan for the Vatu-i-Ra Conservation Area;
• launched a women in fisheries programme focused initially on mud crab fisheries in Bua
Province; and
• commenced marine spatial planning with stakeholders in the Vatu-i-Ra Seascape to
identify potential marine managed areas, that complement and support inshore areas,
while reducing conflict between competing uses.
Our communication work focused on:
• building the foundation for a Vatu-i-Ra Seascape campaign, to support both inshore and
offshore marine managed areas;
• hosting an art and photographic expedition at the Fiji Museum to showcase the Vatu-i-
Ra Seascape;
• signing a Pacific broadcast deal with Fiji Television Limited (Fiji TV) to broadcast nature
documentaries to 14 Pacific island countries free of charge;
• extensive screening of our 26-minute documentary ‘Roots to Happiness’ to a wide range
of audiences; and
• eight new scientific publications, on a range of topics including shark movement
patterns, methods to detect impacts of fishing within periodically harvested closures
(tabus), marine spatial planning for protected areas, the recovery potential of the
world’s coral reef fisheries, and securing sustainable seafood from developing countries.
Lastly, WCS Fiji continued to maintain a strong presence on national committees and steering
groups like the Protected Area Committee (PAC) and the Fiji Locally Management Marine Area
(FLMMA) network to help achieve national objectives in biodiversity protection, protected
areas, conservation planning, and sustainable fisheries. We end the year formally accepting
membership on the newly formed BIOFIN Committee under the Department of Environment,
and Fisheries Offshore Marine Reserve Committee under the Department of Fisheries.
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